GEORGIA BACKUP WEAPON QUALIFICATION (GBUW)

I. FIREARM: Any pistol or other handgun designed, issued, or used as a backup weapon.

II. AMMUNITION: 20 rounds of agency issued duty ammunition.

III. TARGET: Two (2) SQT A-1 targets per shooter.

IV. CLOTHING: Issued duty gear, hat/cap, and eye and ear protection.

V. SIGHTS: Factory installed and/or aftermarket sights are allowed. Agencies and officers are encouraged to utilize low profile and other “no-snag” sights on their backup weapons. They are further encouraged to test same for ease of draw/presentation from their intended concealment holster and its anticipated carry location and while wearing a variety of possible clothing options.

VI. GENERAL: Magazines or cylinders shall be loaded to full capacity, even though each string of fire requires just 4 rounds to complete. Shooters shall reload as necessary, and as directed by the Range Instructor, prior to commencing each string. All reloads are the shooter’s responsibility.

Malfunctions must be cleared by the shooter. There are no alibis allowed.

Rounds may be made up at the STAGE (distance) where problems or malfunctions occur, but only within the allotted time limits for that stage.

Backup weapons must be drawn from the same holster and body position from which it is carried on/off duty.

VII. SCORING: Inside the center mass line – 10 points Outside the center mass line – 8 points Maximum Raw Score – 200 points Minimum Qualifying Score – 160 points = 80%

Should the bullet perforation ring break the scoring line of any scoring area, the shooter shall be credited with the scoring value of the higher of the adjacent scoring areas.

VIII. SAFETY: While actively engaged in a course of fire and while moving, reloading, and/or clearing a malfunction therein, the shooter will maintain proper muzzle and trigger finger discipline by keeping the weapon pointed in a safe direction downrange and by keeping the trigger finger off the trigger

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and out of the trigger guard. At all other times during this qualification and while moving, the shooter will similarly maintain proper muzzle and trigger finger discipline by keeping the weapon pointed in a safe direction downrange and by keeping the trigger finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard. Weapon safeties shall be engaged where applicable..

Due to the various holster configurations, Range Instructors must maintain awareness of each shooter’s weapon location and drawing technique, in order to maintain a safe firing line.

IX. DEFINITIONS:

Low Ready/Cover Positions: The Low Ready position is defined as holding the weapon with arms fully extended, weapon pointed down range, with the trigger finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard. The muzzle should be pointed far enough below the target so the shooter can see the target suspect’s hands.

The target does not become a threat until it is either presented to the shooter (moving or turning targets) or upon the receipt of a sound/verbal command from the Range Instructor.

Instructors and agencies are strongly encouraged to train their officers in the proper way to transition from a non-functioning duty weapon to a backup weapon. By utilizing blue or red replica weapons, the speed, urgency and proper transition technique can be easily, repetitively and inexpensively practiced and ingrained.

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X. QUALIFICATION COURSE:

STAGE ONE: 15-Yard Line, use of cover, 2 strings of fire, 4 rounds total.

String 1- STANDING RIGHT SIDE COVER position: 4 seconds per iteration, 2 iterations, 1 round per iteration, 2 total rounds.

INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all shooters are on the 15-yard line have them load their backup weapon to full capacity and holster.

Standing outside of cover with their weapon holstered, on the command of “Cover”, the shooter will draw and move behind the RIGHT SIDE of cover, and begin searching for their RIGHT target. On the command to “Fire” the shooter will fire ONE round in the RIGHT target in 4 seconds, stay out at a low ready and on the second command to “Fire”, fire ONE round in the LEFT target in 4 seconds.

Holster on command of the instructor.

String 2- STANDING LEFT SIDE COVER position: 4 seconds per iteration, 2 iterations, 1 round per iteration, 2 total rounds.

Standing outside of cover with their weapon holstered, on the command of “Cover”, the shooter will draw and move behind the LEFT SIDE of cover, and begin searching for their LEFT target. On the command to “Fire” the shooter will fire ONE round in the LEFT target in 4 seconds, stay out at a low ready and on the second command to “Fire”, fire ONE round in the RIGHT target in 4 seconds.

Holster on command of the instructor.

STAGE TWO: 10-Yard Line, use of cover, 1 string of fire, 4 rounds total.

String 1- STANDING/KNEELING COVER position: 8 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 4 rounds total.

INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all students are the 10-yard line have them load their backup weapon to full capacity and holster. If the shooter kneels to draw from an ankle holster, all shots in this string can be fired from the kneeling position.

Standing outside of cover with their weapon holstered, on the command of “Cover”, the shooter will move to either side of cover while drawing their weapon and upon the command to “Fire”, the shooter will fire ONE round in the RIGHT target and ONE round in the LEFT target, in any order they choose, then drop

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to a kneeling position and again fire ONE round in the RIGHT target and ONE round in the LEFT target, in any order they choose. All 4 rounds must be fired within 8 seconds.

Holster on command of the Range Instructor.

STAGE THREE: 7-Yard Line, no cover, verbal commands, 3 strings of fire, 8 rounds total.

String 1- NO COVER position: 5 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 4 rounds total.

INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all students are on the 7-yard line have them load their backup weapon to maximum capacity and holster. Once everyone is loaded and holstered, have them draw and come to a low ready position.

Standing in the open, and from the low ready, on the command to “Fire” the shooter gives verbal commands to the suspect target and fires TWO rounds in the RIGHT target and TWO rounds in the LEFT target in any order they choose, within 5 seconds.

Upon command of the Range Instructor, re-load to maximum capacity and holster.

String 2- NO COVER position: weapon hand only: 3 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 2 rounds total.

Standing in the open, and upon command of the Range Instructor to “Draw”, shooters will come to the low ready, with the backup weapon in the weapon hand only. On the command to “Fire” the shooter gives verbal commands to the suspect target and fires ONE round in the RIGHT target and ONE round in the LEFT target in any order they choose, within 3 seconds.

Upon command of the Range Instructor, re-load to maximum capacity and holster.

String 3- NO COVER position: support hand only: 3 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 2 rounds total.

Standing in the open, and upon command of the Range Instructor to “Draw”, shooters will come to the low ready, with the backup weapon in the support hand only. On the command to “Fire”, the shooter gives verbal commands to the suspect target and fires ONE round in the RIGHT target and ONE round in the LEFT target, in any order they choose, within 3 seconds.

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Upon command of the Range Instructor, reload to maximum capacity and holster.

STAGE FOUR: 3-Yard Line, no cover, verbal commands, 2 strings of fire, 4 rounds total.

String 1- NO COVER position: 3 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 2 rounds total.

INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all students are at the 3-yard line have them load their backup weapon to full capacity and holster. Once everyone is loaded and holstered, have them draw and come to a low ready position.

Standing in the open, and from the low ready, on the command to “Fire”, the shooter takes one step left or right, while giving verbal commands to the suspect target and fires ONE round in the RIGHT target and ONE round in the LEFT target, in any order they choose, within 3 seconds and returns to the low ready.

String 2- NO COVER position: 3 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 2 rounds total.

Standing in the open, and from the low ready, on the command to “Fire”, the shooter, while giving verbal commands to the suspect target, fires ONE round to the HEAD of the RIGHT target and ONE round to the HEAD of the LEFT target, in any order they chose, within 4 seconds.

INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Instructors have all students unload, show a safe and empty weapon and holster.

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